Cutting Frank Calabrese off at the pass
A young Frank Calabrese Sr.
Federal prosecutors want to stop Frank Calabrese Sr. from testifying on two key points for his defense.
In a court motion filed Sunday, the Family Secrets prosecutors are asking U.S. District Judge James Zagel to prevent Calabrese Sr. from testifying that his sons stole his classic cars or valuables from his vacation home in Williams Bay, Wisc.
Calabrese Sr.'s defense theory is that he was framed by his brother, Outfit killer Nick Calabrese, and his two sons, Frank Jr. and Kurt.
Calabrese Sr. contends all three men conspired to keep in prison, so they could steal his stuff.
Calabrese Sr. has not explained, yet, how his son Frank Jr. got him to speak so convincingly about mob murders and in such detail during secret prison recordings the son made.
But Calabrese Sr.'s direct testimony is expected to continue Monday morning and perhaps he will provide an explanation.
As part of his defense, Calabrese Sr. will have to say exactly what stuff they stole.
Prosecutors Mitch Mars, John Scully and Markus Funk argue he shouldn't be able to testify about it all.
First, they say Calabrese Sr. can't prove it was his stuff.
The classic cars, for instance, aren't in his name.
Nor is any property in Calabrese Sr.'s name - at least prosecutors can't find any.
Also, they argue Calabrese Sr. has no firsthand knowledge of anybody stealing things from him.
After all, he's been in prison since 1997.
The judge will likely make a decision early Monday morning as to whether Calabrese Sr. will be able to explore this key area of his defense.
